A 36-YEAR-OLD Derby man handled a stolen motorbike for people he knew because he feared he would be beaten up, a court has been told.
A member of the public tipped off police that Richard Briggs, of Chaddesden, had possession of the £1,500 motorcycle on July 18.
Officers visited him and discovered the bike, which Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court was told had "huge sentimental value" to its owner.
Briggs, of Beaufort Street, told officers he knew it was stolen but the people who handed it to him would "severely beat him" if he did not agree to do it.
Peter Bettany, prosecuting, said: "The motorbike was of particular value to the owner because he assembled it over eight months in Kazakhstan and had ridden it back to Derby through 28 countries."
Briggs admitted one count of handling stolen goods.
Simon Stevens, for Briggs, said his client was "now trying to distance himself" from the men and had been diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis.
Magistrates handed Briggs a 12-month community order with supervision. He has also been ordered to wear an electronic tag for four months, meaning he cannot leave his address between 7pm and 7am. He was told to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
